Fingerprint card or sheet holder



Patented Sept. 2, 1941 umrso STATS! PATH 11 Claims fingerprint sheet or card in different positions on said support strip. It is particularly intended to so hold the sheet or card that the support strip supports the area upon which the finger tips are fingerprinted. The purpos of having the fiat downwardly and rearwardly extending rear portion of the support strip is that the four fingers of each hand may be conveniently rested or rolled thereon to obtain good plain or rolled fingerprints. However, it is necessary that the hand be turned around to fingerprint the thumbs. 7

Still further the invention proposes a novel construction for said sheet holding means.

Another object of the invention resides in a modification in which the support strip may be tilted to various positions so that its fiat downwardly extending rear portion may assume various inclinations. V

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a fingerprint card or sheet holder constructed according to this invention and illustrated with a fingerprint card or sheet mounted thereon.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of Fig. 1 lookingfrom the left hand end. c

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view 7 taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a fingerprint card or sheet holder constructed in accordance with a modification of this invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational view looking in the direction of the line 66 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a fingerprint card or sheet holder constructed in accordance with a modified form of this invention. Fig. Sis a fragmentary side elevational view of Fig. 7 looking from the left hand side.

Figs. 9 and 10 are other views similar to Fig.2, but illustrating other forms of the invention- The fingerprint card holder, in accordance with this invention, includes a fiat body I0 which has its front end fixedly mounted on a support or guide strip II in a manner so that the body, I0 rests on a table II' or the like and the strip II will prevent any slippage of the device when pressed against the edge of the tab-1e. A support strip I2 is mounted upon the top of said body It and at its front end has a rounded front portion I2 continuing into a fiat downwardly and rearwardly extending portion I2 A fingerprint sheet or card I3 is mounted upon the holder and has an area thereof which is to be used, engaged over and supported by said support strip I2. The flat body is provided with a means for adjustably holding the sheet I3 in position. The sheet I3 may be a part of a roll of printed paper used for fingerprinting or should preferably be stacked, one on top of the other, so that the:

uppermost sheet may be readily used for taking; fingerprints. I Y

The means mentioned in the previous para-- graph includes a fingerprint sheet guide and; holding strip I4 mounted on the front edge of the: body I0 through which a section I3 of the sheet [3 passes. Another fingerprint sheet guide and holding strip I5 is mounted upon the flat body III to the rear of the support strip I2. Another area of the sheet I3 passes through the strip I5. More particularly, the strip I l comprises a strip body having a slot I formed on its inner face. The sheet I3 passes through this slot. The strip I5 also comprises a strip body with a slot I5 through which the sheet I3 passes. The flat body II! is formed with an opening lo through which sheet I3 may be readily gripped and handled.

The fingerprint card and sheet holder is used in the following manner:

The sheet I3 is threaded through the guide and holding strips I4 and I5 so that an area thereof is tautly stretched over the supportstrip I2. A person standing to the front of the fingerprint card or sheet holder may easily place the four fingers of each hand simultaneously or five fingers separately upon that section of the fingerprint card or sheet which is rested on the support strip I2. The dot and dash lines I6 in Fig. 2 schematically indicate a finger properly placed on th fingerprint sheet. In this way good prints may be obtained of the four fingers of each hand. The sheet I3 may he slipped forwards or rearwards to various positions so that various areas j spring 2I thereof are engaged over the support strip I2. In this way the entire sheet may be properly filled out.

In order to obtain good prints of the thumbs it is necessary that the handrbe twisted around to a proper position to allow the thumb to come down in a position substantially the same as one of the four fingers. The feature of the guide and holding strips I 4 and I5 residesin the fact that these strips will hold the fingerprint sheet or card tautly in position to conform with the shape of support strip I2, while at the same time it permits the sheet to be moved when required.

In Figs. 4 to 6 inclusivea modified form of the invention has been disclosed which distinguishes from the prior form in the construction slots 29 and 3|. Each link 30 is pivotally supported by a pintle 33 at its bottom end on a stationary bracket 34 mounted on the flat body III. In other respects this form of the invention is similar to the previous forms.

The use of this form of the invention is identical to the prior form. However the inclination of the support strip I 2' may be changed to better suit a person being fingerprinted. It is mereof the means for holding the fingerprint sheet or card. This means is characterized by a fingerprint sheet guide and holding strip I4 which is mounted upon the front edge of the flat body ly necessary that the wing nuts and screws 32 by loosened and then the front edge portion of the support strip I 2 may be moved upwards and downwards to change the inclination of the flat downwardly and rearwardly extending rear portion IN. The screws and wing nuts 32 may then be tightened to hold the support strip I2 in its new position.

In Fig. 9, in place of the support strip H,

I a downwardly extending finger II of a metal III and which has a slot I4? for the passage of V the fingerprint sheet. The strip I4 is permanently attached to one leaf I 8% of a hinge I8 which has its other leaf' I8 pivotally mounted on the front edge of the body I0 by a pintle screw or fastening element IBQQThe remoteend of the strip I4 is releasably held in position by a headed stud,20 which is urged outwards by a coaxial spring 2I mounted thereon. The stud 20 has an' internal head 22 engaging, a bayonet slot 23 formed in the front of the flat body IIl.

The arrangement is such that the strip I4 may be pivoted to disengage the head 22 of the stud 20 from the bayonet slot 23 and then the strip I4 maybe hinged open. This facilitates the engagement of the fingerprint sheet through the slot I4 The fiat body is also provided with" a fingerprint sheet guide and holding strip I5 mounted upon the top of the flat body III to therear of the support strip I2. This strip I5 is hingedly V and pivotally supportedat one endby a hinge I8. The hinge I8 has a leaf I8= -permanently attached tothe strip I 5 and another leaf 'IB which is pivotally mounted on' the body III by a pintle screw or other fastening element I9. The other end of the strip I5 is provided with a headed stud 26 having an inner head 22. A urges the stud 20 in one direction. The head 22 is cooperative with a bayonet slot 23' formed in the body ID. The arrangement is such that the strip I5 may be pivoted to disengage the head 22 from the bayonet slot 23 and then the strip I5 may be hinged'upwards to an open position about the hinge I8.

In other respects this form of the invention is similar to the previous formand like parts are. identified by like reference numerals; l

' In Figs. 7 and 8 another form of the invention is disclosed which distinguishes from the form shown in Figs. 1-3 in the fact that there is a support strip I 2 mounted upon the flat body ID. This support strip I2 is adiustably mounted. The strip, I2 is formed from heavy sheet material. It has a curbed front portion I 2 and a flat downwardly and rearwardly extending rear portion I2. The rear end of the rear portion I2 is provided with a pair of lugs 25 which are pivotally connected by -pintles-26 with and wing nut 32' engage through each pair'of plate support strip I2 is provided for keeping the, fingerprint card holder against a table or the like andto prevent the device from slipping.

Thisfing er II== may be raised or lowered and simultaneously the metal plate support strip is also raised or lowered to different positions.

A loop 35 is secured to the edge portion I0 of the'body III" to guide the fingerprint sheet. Raised portions I2 along the side edges of the support strip I2 help to keep the fingerprint sheet in position together with the strip I5.

7 InFig. 10, the body III' and the inclined portion 36 are made to form an integral portion together with loop 35' and the strip I5. This form of the invention may be made of composition or any other suitable material.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to tions coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the app nded claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A fingerprint card holder, comprising a flat body, a fingerprint sheet guide and holding strip mounted on the front edge of said body, a support strip mounted on the top of said body at port strip mounted on the top of said body at itsfront end and having a rounded front portion and a flat downward and rearwardly extending rear portion, and a fingerprint sheet guide and holding" strip mounted on said fiat body to the rear of said support strip, each of said strips comprisinga strip body with a'slot.

3. A fingerprint card holder comprising a flat body, a support strip mounted on the top of said body at its front end and having a rounded front portion, and a fiat downwardly and rearwardly extending rear portion, and means for holding a fingerprint sheet in various positions across said support strip.

' 4; A' fingerprint card holder comprising a flat body, a support strip mounted on the top of said body at its front end and having a rounded front portion, and a fiat downwardlyandfrearwardly extending rear portion, and means for holding a fingerprint sheet in various positions across said support strip, said means comprising fingerprint sheet guide and holding strips mounted on said body to the front and to the rear of said support strip.

5. A fingerprint card holder comprising a flat body, a support strip mounted on the top of said body at its front end and having a rounded front portion, and a flat downwardly and rearwardly extending rear portion, and means for holding a fingerprint sheet in various positions across said support strip, said means comprising fingerprint sheet guide and holding strips mounted on said body to the front and to the rear of said support strip, each guide and holding strip being hingedly and pivotally mounted at one end, and means for releasably holding the other ends of said guide and holding strips, whereby the guide and holding strips may be pivoted upwards to facilitate the engagement of a fingerprint sheet or card therebeneath.

6. A fingerprint card holder, comprising a fiat body, a fingerprint sheet guide and holding strip mounted on the front edge of said body, a support strip mounted on the top of said body at its front end and having a rounded front portion and a flat downward and rearwardly extending rear portion, a fingerprint sheet guide and holding strip mounted on said fiat body to the rear 0 of said support strip, and means for raising and lowering the front portion of said support strip for changing the inclination of the rear portion.

7. A fingerprint card holder, comprising a fiat body, a fingerprint sheet guide and holding strip mounted on the front edge of said body, a support strip mounted on the top of said body at its front end and having a rounded front portion and a flat downward and rearwardly extending rear portion, a fingerprint sheet guide and holding strip mounted on said flat body to the rear of said support strip, and means for raising and lowering the front portion of said support strip for changing the inclination of the rear portion,

comprising means for hingedly mounting the support strip at its rear end, and means for holding the front end of the support strip in various fixed positions.

port strip mounted on the top of said body at its front end and having a rounded front portion and a fiat downward and rearwardly extending rear portion, a fingerprint sheet guide and holding strip mounted on said flat body to the rear of said support strip, and means for raising and lowering the front portion of said support strip for changing the inclination of the rear portion, comprising means for hingedly mounting the support strip at its rear end, and means for holding the frontend of the support strip in various fixed positions, including screws and wing nuts which may be loosened to permit a change of the position of the support strip.

9. A fingerprint card holder, comprising a flat body, a fingerprint sheet guide and holding strip mounted on the front edge of said body, a support strip mounted on the top of said body at its front end and having a rounded front portion and a fiat downward and rearwardly extending rear portion, and a fingerprint sheet guide and holding strip mounted on said flat body to the 8. A fingerprint card holder, comprising a fiat body, a fingerprint sheet guide and holding strip mounted on the front edge of said body, a suprear of said support strip, said support strip being adjustable forsetting the same into the natural condition of the fingers which are to be fingerprinted.

10. A fingerprint card holder, comprising a flat body, a fingerprint sheet guide and holding strip mounted on the front edge of said body, a support strip mounted on the top of said body at its front end and having a rounded front portion and a flat downward and rearwardly extending rear portion, anda fingerprint sheet guide and holding strip mounted on said flat body to the rear of said support strip, said support strip being adjustable for setting the same into the natural condition of the fingers which are to be fingerprinted, and means for preventing the holder from sliding.

11. A fingerprint card holder, comprising a fiat body made of plastic material, a fingerprint sheet guide and holding strip on the front edge integral with said body, an inclined support strip on the top of and integral with said body at its front end and having a rounded front portion and a flat downward and rearwardly extending rear portion, and an integral fingerprint sheet guide and holding strip on said flat body to the rear of said support ship.

EDWARD K'ESSICK. 

